Mining and loading apparatus



Oct. 26 1926. 1,604,701

N. o. LEVIN MINING AND LOADING APPARATUS Original Fih3d August 7, 191'! 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

1, Jaw/QM Z a S WITNESSES:

Oct. 26

N. o. L EVEN MINING AND LOADING APPARATUS Original Filed August 7, 1917 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 j WITNESSES:

Ava/ 4 Patented. Oct. 26, 1926. v

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

" was I). LEVIN, or COLUMBUS, OHIO, AssIeNoR-To THE JEFFREY MANUFACTURING coI/IrANY, or COLUMBUS, OHIO, A CORPORATION or OHIO.

IiIININa AND LOADING APPARATUS.

Original application filed August 7, 1917, Serial NO. 184,946. Divided and this application filed February 10, 1919, Serial No; 276,024. Renewed iapril 13, 1925'.

remove it rearwardly of the machine and deposit it in conveniently positioned mine cars for transportation fromthe mine. Included in the loading devices shown in that application are the hereinafter described devices whereby the delivery end of the conveyer may be vertically adjusted to adapt the machine to more convenient use in the dark and restricted chambers of the coal mine.

It is the especial object of this invention 55 to provide, in a machine of theclass described, improved means for vertically adjusting the delivery end of the loading con veyer toadapt the machine to use in veins of various heights and with mine cars of 10 different dimensions.

Another object of this invention 1 is to.

. provide such adjusting means with resilient safety devices whereby the conveyer will be protected from injury due to the acci- 5 "dental contact of the loading conveyer with the roof of the mine. These and other objects will appear'in the following specification in which A Fig. 1 is a general plan view of a mining i0 and loading machine comprising the preferred embodiment of my invention. 7 Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation, on an enlarged scale, of; the loading conveyer shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

. Fig. 4 is a .transverse sectional view taken along thelines IV-IV of Fig.3.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line V--V of Fig; 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of the delivery end of the loading conveyer" illustrating the action of the resilient safety devices.

"body Like numerals referto similar parts in the several figures.

Stated very briefly the machine illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings comprises five principal parts. These are the undercutting mechanism indicated by the character A, the vertical shearing devices B and B, the breaking)down mechanism C, the primary conveyer and the secondary or loading conveyer E. These principal parts are co-operatively connected together and are mounted upon a main frame 1 which is supported upon a pan or shoe 2 resting directly upon the floor of the mine. The pan 2 is movable Over the floor of the mine to position the machine relative to the material which isto be mined and the main frame 1 I is slidable longitudinally of the pan 2 to bring the cutting and breaking down devices 1 into operative relation with said material. At its forward end the primary conveyer D is arranged within the bounding plane of the undercutting mechanism A and is carried by it into the kerf formed in the of the vein to receive the material as it is dislodged by the breaking down.mecha-- nism C. The primary conveyer D removes the material loosened by the mining and dislodging apparatus, carrying it rearward and delivering it to the take-away system of parts. This system comprises a strong base structure, capableof sustaining a heavy overhanging weight, having a hopper 3 which is pivoted or hinged to the main frame 1 on a vertical axis in approximately the central longitudinal vertical plane of the primary conveyer. D, and comprising also the thus pivotally supported at a vertical axis,

it is adapted to be swung laterally horizontally to maintain proper relations to the pit car when the minin machine is moved transversely of the trac k, and also to permit its being used for taking awa from the machine, and depositing at a pre etermin'ed lace, the refuse material upon the gob piles at the sides of the track.

The hopper section 3 is a. shallow pan surrounding the end of the loading conveyer E, and serves merely toretain the small amount of coal which may accidentally fall from the conveyer D.

The active element of the loading conveyer E is of the endless chain and scraper type, and comprises two chains 6 and 6 connected together at spaced intervals by transverse scraper elements 7. At the rear end of the conveyer the chains Grun over suitable idler sprocket wheels attached to a transverse shaft 8 and at the forward end these chains run over suitable idler wheels mounted in the hopper casting 3. As the arrangement of such head and foot sprocket wheels is well understood by those skilled in the conveyer art, and forms no part in the present invention, detailed description of them is not thought to be required at this time. The hopper casting 3 is of suitable form to cooperate with the main frame casting 1 to constitute a pivotal support for the overhanging conveyer frame, and to fahorizontal axis.

cilitate its free rotation about such. pivotal support. The hopper casting is provided with upwardly extending flaring side walls 9 positioned and adapted to receive material discharged from the primary conveyer D. Sprocket wheels 10 are arranged to engage the lower strand of the conveyer chain to drive the conveyer. Mounted upon the frame work of the conveyer is a motor 11, which may be of any preferred construction. For purposes-of illustration I have shown an electric motor arranged to receive the actuating current through a suitable flexible conductor 12 from any convenient source of supply. The motor 11 is provided with an armature pinion 13 arranged to mesh with a spur gear 14 on a suitably positioned shaft 15. On the shaft 15 is a worm 16 which meshes with the worm wheel 17 on the transverse shaft 18. The transverse shaft 18 is suitably mounted upon the frame work and carries the sprocket wheels 10 through which the conveyer is actuated.

The trough of the conveyor E is made up of two sections which are pivoted together for relative movement about a transverse The forward section of the trough consists of a plate 19, on which the upper strand of the conveyor rests, and the side walls 20 and 21. The lower parts 20 of the side walls are continuations of the flaring hopper walls 9 which are formed as integral parts. of the main hopper casting 3. The rear parts 21 of the side walls of the forward section of the conveyor trough are "secured to the forward part 20 and to the frame work which comprises two'pairs of structural steel sections 24 and 25 all of which are bolted or riveted at their forward ends to the main. hopper casting 3. Vertical sections 26' connect the sections 24 and 25 near their rear ends. The bottom plate 19 of the trough is connected to the side walls in any usual or preferred manner. As before stated this plate serves to support the forward part of the upper strand of the conveyor. The forward part of the lower shaft 28. Upon the ends of the shaft 28 are mounted supporting arms 29 to the rear ends 30 of which the trough of the rear section of the conveyor is secured. This trough extends substantially horizontally and is made up of the side plates 31, 31, which flare outwardly at their upper part, and the transverse plates 32 and 33 for supporting respectively the upper and lower strands of the conveyor. The plates 32 and 33 are secured to the side plates 31 by means of suitable angle bars 34- and 35, and angle bars 36 are attached to the side plates to protect the upper strands of the chains. 6 from material travelingin the conveyor trough. .The transverse shaft 8 is supported in suitable bearings 37 secured to the side plates 31 of the conveyor trough and can be adjusted longitudinally by means of the screws 38- to regulate the tension of the conveyor chains. To the forward end of each of the supporting arms 29 is attached a roller 39 over which is Wound a rope 40 one end of which is windable upon a transverse winding shaft 41, and the other end, after passing around a guide sheave 42, is attached to an eye bolt 43. The eye bolt 43 extends longitudinally of the frame member 25, through an aperture at the center of the bottom of a cylindrical cup 44 which is secured to the frame member 25 by suitable attachwhich is screw threaded to the eye bolt 43. V

The transverse shaft 41 is journaled in bearings 48 attached to the frame member 25 and is provided with a ratchet wheel 49. Rota; table about the'shaft 41 is ahand lever 50 having a pawl 51 adapted to engage the ratchet wheel 49. A second pawl 53 mounted upon the conveyor frame engages said ratchet, wheel to prevent itsretrograde movement. By the manipulation of the hand lever 50 the, shaft 41 may be rotated to wind the rope 40 thereby depressing the forward end of the supporting arm 29 with a corresponding elevation of'the rearward end of the conveyor, and by the" compressibility of the springs 45 the parts. of the machine are protected from undue strain due to .the rear- Ward end of the conveyor being. brought into.

accidental contact with the roof of the mine.- When such apparatus is used in the dark and restricted chambers of a coal mine it.

frequently happens that insufficient space is allowed by the operator between the loading conveyor and the roof of the mine for the passage of the larger lumps of coal, as lllustrated in Fig. 6 of the draw1ngs. Under such circumstances the compressibility of the springs permits the conveyor to yield to downward pressure and insures the appara tus against undesirable strains.

What I claim is- 1. In a mining machine, the combination of a main frame, coal dislodging devices at the front endof the frame, take-away mechsaid first named section, a conveyor traversing said framesections and adapted to take coal from said hopper and discharge it at the end ofv the outer elevator section, meansfor supporting said outer elevator frame seotion resiliently relative to the elevator frame base section, and manually controllable devices for varyingthe angular relation be-' tween the two elevator sections.-

2. In a mining machine, the comblnation of a mainframe, coal dislodglng devices at the front end of the frame, take-away mechanism comprising a base having a hopper mounted on the rear part of the main frame and horizontally movable about a vertical axis relative-to said main frame, an elevator frame having a section secured to said base and an outer/section pivotally connected to said first named section, a conveyor traversing said frame sections and adapted to take coal from said hopper and discharge it .at

the end of the outer elevator section, means for supporting'saidouter elevator frame section resiliently relative to the elevator frame base section, arms extending rearwardly from said outer elevator frame section, resilient means coupling said outer elevator frame section to a fixed part of the machine, and manually operable 'means to vary the angular relation "of said outer sectionto said base section,

Q 0 1 n l I I 3. In a mining machine, the comb nation ofa main frame, coaldislodgi-ng devices at the front end of the frame, take-away mechanism comprisinga base having a hopper.

mounted on the rear part of the main frame and horizontally movable about a vertical axis relative to said mainframe, an elevator frame'havmg a section secured to said base and an outer section pivotally connected to said first named section,- a conveyor'travers ng" said frame sectionsand adapted'to take coal from said hopper'and discharge it at the end of the outer elevator section, means for supporting said outer elevator frame section resiliently relative to the elevator frame base section, arms extending rearwardly from said outer elevator frame section, res'ilient means coupling said arms .to a fixed part of the machine, and manually operable means connected with and operating through said resilient means to vary the angular relation of said frame and said base frame.

4. In a mining machine, the combination of a main frame, coal dislodging devices on said frame, take-away mechanism comprising a conveyor to receive dislodged coal, an overflow hopper pivotally mounted on the frame, a trough section extending from said hopper, an outer trough section pivotally and resiliently connected to said hopper section, and a second conveyor traversing said hopper and outer section.

5. In a mining machine, the combination I of a niain frame, coal dislodging devices on said frame, take-away mechanism comprising a conveyor to receive dislodged coal, an overflow hopper pivotally mounted on the frame, a trough section extending from said hopper, an outer trough section pivotally and resiliently connected to said hopper section, a second conveyor traversing said hopper and outer section, and means for adjust-s tion, a second conveyor traversing said'hopper and outer section, and manually operable means for ad ust1ng sald outer section angu larly with respect to said hopper section.

17, Take-away mechanism for mining ma-. chines comprlsmg, 1n combination, a conveyor to recelve dislodged coal, a pivotally mounted overflow hopper, a trough section extending'from said hopper, an underframe connected to and supporting the outer end of said hopper section, an outer trough section pivotally and resiliently connected to said hopper section, and a conveyor traversing said hopper and outer sectlons.

8. Take-away mechanism for mining -ma.

chines compr sing, in combination, a conveyor to receive dlslodged coal, a pivotally mounted overflow hopper, a trough section extending from said hopper, an underframe beneath said trough section, a supporting brace connecting said underframe and trough section, an'outer trough section pivotally connected to said hopper section, re

llO

' silient means tending to elevate said outer frame and trough section, an outer trough section pivotally connected to said hopper section, resilient means tending to elevate saidouter section, means for adjusting the tens on of said resilient means, and'a conveyor traversing said hopper and outer sectlOIlS- 10. Take-away mechanism for mining machines comprising, in combination, a conveyor to receive dislodged coal, a pivotally mounted overflow hopper, an integral trough section extending from said hopper, an underframe beneath said trough section, a supporting brace connecting said underframe an integral pivotally connected to said hopper section,

an arm extending rearwardly from said pivoted section, spring controlled means engaging said arm and tending to elevate said pivoted section, and a conveyor traversing said hopper and outer sections. V

11. Take-away mechanism for mining machines comprising, in combination, a conveyor to receive dislodged coal, a pivotally mounted overflow hopper, an integral trough section extending from said hopper, an underframe beneath said trough section, a supporting brace connecting said underframe and trough section, an outer trough section pivotally connected to said hopper section, resilient means tending to elevate said pivoted section, means for adjusting said outer section angularly with respect to said hopper section, and a conveyor traversing said trough and pivoted sections.

. In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

NILS n. LEVIN.- 

